Richard Heath Hembree Bio Info

Full name is Richard Heath Hembree. Signed by Jeremy Cleveland (Giants). Attended the College of Charleston and Spartanburg Methodist College.

2016

Began the season with Triple-A Pawtucket, but appeared in a career-high 38 ML games over 4 stints with BOS...Also set career highs in innings (51.0), wins (4), and SO (47). Finished tied for the staff lead in relief wins with Matt Barnes...Stranded 19 of his 26 inherited runners (73%). Led all Red Sox relievers in 1st batter efficiency, retiring 33 of 38 first batters faced (86.8%). Pitched more than 1.0 inning in 19 of his 38 appearances for BOS...Of those 19 appearances, 9 were scoreless. Held RHH to a .201 AVG (27-for-134)...Left-handed batters began the year hitting .475 (19-for-40), but they hit just .161 (5-for-31) with 2 2B and 3 BB from 6/23 through the remainder of the season (22 games). Posted a 10.0-inning scoreless streak to begin his ML season. Limited opponents to a .163 AVG (8-for-49) over his final 11 ML appearances of the season (beginning 8/19). Threw 1.2 perfect innings and struck out all 5 batters faced on 9/25 at TB (career high in SO)...Came on in relief of starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who finished his outing with 6 consecutive strikeouts...Combined, the 2 pitchers set a ML record for strikeouts in consecutive plate appearances (11)...Red Sox pitchers finished with 23 SO that day (10.0 IP), establishing a new single-game Red Sox record. Earned his 1st win of the season with 3.0 scoreless innings in the Red Sox' 12-inning win on 4/24 at HOU. Allowed 8 unearned runs for BOS, 2nd-most among all ML relievers. Gave up 0 runs in 12 of his 13 appearances for the PawSox...Converted all 8 of his save chances for Pawtucket. All 6 hits allowed for the PawSox were singles...Did not allow a hit to a left-handed batter at Pawtucket (0-for-17).

2015

Split the season between Triple-A Pawtucket and the Red Sox...Appeared in a career-high 22 games for BOS over his 4 stints with the big league club. Allowed no runs in 17 of his 22 appearances (77%) for the Red Sox...Recalled on 4/26, 5/23, 6/12, and 8/17. Allowed 10 runs (all ER) on the season for the Sox, 6 of which came in his season debut on 4/26 at BAL (1.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER). For the remainder of the season, posted a 1.50 ERA (4 ER/24.0 IP) with a .218 opponent AVG (19-for-87) and a 1.13 WHIP (8 BB) in 21 ML games...17 of those 21 appearances were scoreless. Held ML opponents to a .200 AVG (4-for-20) with RISP, including only 1 hit in their final 15 AB (.067 AVG). Strung together 10 consecutive ML appearances without issuing a walk from 6/12-9/12 (14.2 IP, 55 BF). Was placed on the DL with right shoulder inflammation on 6/18 (retro to 6/15). Began a rehab appearance with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox on 7/14...Assignment was transferred to Pawtucket, where he made 4 more appearances. Was activated from the DL and optioned to Pawtucket on 6/25. Earned the 1st win of his ML career in the Sox' 13-inning victory on 9/13 at TB. Picked up his only other win of the year on 9/26 vs. BAL. Allowed no runs in 23 of his 29 appearances with Pawtucket. Opened the year with the PawSox and did not allow runs in any of his first 9 games of the season (11.0 IP)... Earned 3 saves and held opponents to a .135 AVG (5-for-37) with 2 BB and 12 SO over that span. Allowed multiple runs in a game only twice and multiple ER just once in his 29 appearances for the PawSox. Averaged 9.1 SO/9.0 IP for Pawtucket (32 SO/31.2 IP)...Held opponents to a .207 AVG (23-for-111) with only 5 XBH (4 2B, 1 HR)...Held LHB to a .208 AVG (10-for-48) and RHB to a .206 AVG (13-for-63).

2014

Spent the beginning of the year in the SF organization and ended it with the Red Sox...Was acquired in the Jake Peavy trade on 7/26...Combined to go 1-4, 20 saves, 3.71 ERA (19 ER/46.0 IP) and 55 SO in 48 appearances between Triple-A Fresno and Pawtucket...37 of his 48 appearances (77%) were scoreless...Began the year with Fresno in SF's minor league system...Prior to the season was rated the No. 7 overall prospect in the Giants' system according to Baseball America...Was named a Pacific Coast League Mid-Season All-Star...Led the Fresno staff in saves (18) and finished 3rd in appearances (41)...Ranked T-2nd among all PCL pitchers in saves...Successfully converted each of his first 12 opportunities...Opened the season with 9 straight scoreless appearances (9.1 IP) and posted a 2.65 ERA (5 ER/17.0 IP) over his first 19 games...Had a 4.84 ERA (12 ER/22.1 IP) over his final 22 contests...With Fresno posted a 0.56 ERA (1 ER/16.0 IP) in 17 home games and a 6.17 ERA (16 ER/23.1 IP) in 24 road games...Acquired by BOS along with LHP Edwin Escobar on 7/26 and was optioned to Pawtucket...Had 6 scoreless appearances in his 7 games with the PawSox and converted 2 saves in his 3 chances...Appeared in 5 playoff games for Pawtucket, earning 2 saves while posting a 1.50 ERA (1 ER/6.0 IP)...Recalled on 8/5 for his 1st career stint with the Red Sox...Made his BOS debut throwing 4.0 scoreless innings of relief in the club's 5-4 loss in 19 innings on 8/9 at LAA...Had his career-best 12.2-inning scoreless streak, which began his ML career, snapped after his first 2 games with BOS...The streak, 9/3/13-8/24/14, began with his ML debut in 2013 and included his first 2 appearances with the Red Sox (5.0 IP).

2013

Made nine appearances for the Giants, allowing four hits and two walks in 7.2-scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts. Had his contract purchased from triple-A Fresno on Sept. 3 and made his Major League debut that night at San Diego...tossed 1.0-perfect inning with two strikeouts. Allowed just one extra-base hit in 27 at-bats. Faced 19 right-handed batters and recorded 11 strikeouts. Set a Grizzlies franchise record with 31 saves this season and ranked second in the PCL, as he went 31-for-36 in save opportunities. Appeared in 54 games with Fresno, posting a 4.07 ERA (25er, 55.1ip) with 63 strikeouts.

2012

In 2012, he spent the majority of his third professional season with triple-A Fresno, going 1-1 with a 4.74 ERA (20er, 38.0ip) along with 15 saves in 17 chances in 39 relief appearances.

2011Had one of best seasons among all Giants minor league relievers, going 1-1 with 38 saves
and 1.86 ERA (11er, 53.1ip) between Class A Advanced San Jose (26 games) and double-A
Richmond (28 games) ... Began season with San Jose and went 0-0 with 0.73 ERA
(2er, 24.2ip) with 44 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 26
games ... Despite only playing for San Jose for half of season,
led CAL league with 21 saves ... Was named to CAL mid-season All-Star team ... Finished month of April ranked 3rd in California League
with 5 saves...struck out 14 batters in just 8.0 innings to
go with his 1.13 ERA (1er, 8.0ip) ... Threw 16.2-consecutive scoreless innings from April
16-May 27...during that stretch recorded 16 saves and
struck out 31 batters ... Was promoted to double-A Richmond on June 16 and
proceeded to go 1-1 with 2.83 ERA (9er, 28.2ip) with 17
saves and 34 punchouts in 28 games ... Had stretch of 32-consecutive successful save opportunities
combined between San Jose and Richmond dating
from April 16 to Aug. 3...posted 2.00 ERA (8er, 36.0ip)
during stretch with 63 strikeouts.2010Made his professional debut with ARL-Giants appearing in only 12 games ... Had great start to his professional career, going 0-0 with
0.82 ERA (1er, 11.0ip), while allowing only 9 hits ... Struck out 22 batters, while recording no walks.